O’Leary must clarify comments or face Ryanair boycott – Imam
RYANAIR boss Michael O’Leary must clarify remarks about Muslims or risk a boycott of his airline after a Twitter campaign supported by thousands blasted his comments in an interview as ‘racist and discriminatory’.
Mr O’Leary is facing criticism for claiming terrorists ‘will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion’.
But the Ryanair chief last night denied calling for Muslim men to be profiled at airports after his comments in an interview with The Times were labelled as ‘racist’ and sparked calls for a boycott.
Responding to the online backlash, chair of the Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council, Dr Umar Al-Qadri, called on Mr O’Leary to clarify his remarks.
If he does so, there will be ‘no need’ for a boycott of the airline, the leading cleric said.
The 58-year-old airline boss said families with young children should be waved through airport security because there was ‘virtually’ no chance of them being bombers.
‘Who are the bombers? They are going to be single males travelling on their own. If you are travelling with a family of kids, on you go; the chances you are going to blow them all up is zero.’
He added: ‘You can’t say stuff, because it’s racism, but it will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion. Thirty years ago it was the Irish. If that is where the threat is coming from, deal with the threat.’
Dr Al-Qadri told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘In the current climate of anti-Muslim sentiment and Islamophobia on the right, to give general statements like this is disappointing because it tarnishes the whole community and justifies racism and discrimination against the community.
‘Terrorism is not only confined to one community. We find extremist elements in every community – recently a white German killed nine innocent people in Germany.
‘I’m a frequent traveller. I fly frequently with Aer Lingus and Ryanair. Already as Muslims, particularly single men, we have to go through many checks when we travel. This has been going on for a number of years. At the moment, I’m not calling for a boycott of the airline. Hopefully, if he clarifies his comments, there will be no need for that.’
Dr Al-Qadri, who is the Imam at the Al-Mustafa Islamic Centre mosque in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, added: ‘We’re being profiled already. I am concerned for young Muslim men growing up in a society in which societal figures can make such irresponsible comments.’
However, Ryanair last night angrily condemned the headline that accompanied the article – ‘Airline boss wants extra checks on Muslim men’ – which it said was not justified by Mr O’Leary’s words. In a statement, Ryanair said: ‘The headline... is simply inaccurate. No call for extra checks on any group or persons was made. Michael was only calling for more effective airport security checks which would do away with much of the unnecessary queues at airport security today for all passengers.
‘He apologises sincerely for any offence caused to any group by today’s inaccurate headline.’